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UK boating sector reports seventh consecutive year of growth

New figures from UK industry association British Marine show that the country’s boating sector grew for the seventh consecutive year in 2018, with total revenues up by 1.7% to £3.17bn.

According to the figures, direct revenue from the marine industry trade has contributed over £1.1bn of Gross Value Added (GVA) to the UK economy, supporting over 33,000 direct employees in marine businesses across the UK.

The UK’s strong export performance continues to drive growth. In 2018, leisure marine exports surpassed £1bn for the first time since 2013, representing an increase of 16% compared to the previous year. This has been attributed to strong global economic growth in 2018 and a weak pound as a consequence of Brexit, making British products price-competitive compared to their international rivals.

The eurozone and wider EU remains an important market for the sector, accounting for 50% of all industry exports, although the US is fast becoming an increasingly important trading partner for British companies, now accounting for 25% of British exports. The US has also seen a high level of growth at 30%, along with Asia at 20% and South America at 39%.

The UK domestic market remains flat, with Brexit-related uncertainty making consumers nervous and reluctant to spend on leisure items. However, this has also resulted in British citizens holidaying at home.

Consumer confidence has fallen into negative territory for the first time in five years, with the UK’s consumer confidence index falling to 99.95 compared to the recent high of 102.5 in April 2014.

“These latest figures illustrate that the British boating sector has continued to prosper, despite challenging conditions and the ongoing uncertainty about Brexit,” says British Marine CEO Lesley Robinson. “A weakened pound has provided much-needed support to industry exports and with British holiday makers staying in the UK, nearly a third of tourism businesses are remaining positive about the future.

“However, with the proposed EU exit deadline looming, the future health of the industry is not guaranteed,” she adds. “Business confidence within the industry relies on consumer confidence and if this uncertainty continues the industry will pay the price. After all, leisure activities are almost always the first thing consumers drop during tougher times.”

Business confidence among British Marine members remain buoyant, with a net rating score of +26% of British Marine members positive about their future prospects. The survey shows a decline of -4% on the 2017 edition, but a significant improvement on the -7% registered at the time of the EU referendum.

“Leaving the EU could have many consequences for the British marine sector, putting a strain on the supply chain, increasing critical skills shortages and impacting business cash flow because of VAT payment uncertainty,” Robinson adds. “The sector is robust, but a bad Brexit puts our success at risk.”

The UK’s Owen Group is celebrating its 50-year anniversary in 2019, marking five decades since Roy Owen Roberts set up the multichannel marketing agency in a storage loft in Havant, Hampshire. Within weeks Owen had signed its first marine client, Halmatic Marine, and business continued to grow.

Following the success of the first Superyacht Build, Repair Refit Trail at the 2018 Seawork Exhibition in the UK, the organisers are planning for a larger, second edition in 2019. In 2018, some 65 companies participated in the first Superyacht Trail.

Citing a long hot summer, HISWA Holland Marine says the Dutch boating sector’s 2018 turnover rose by 4.8% over the previous year. Rentals led the pack with a 10% turnover rise, followed by 7% growth for new-boat sales.